The traditional memories of Peter’s residence in Rome and his prolonged teaching there are very numerous. De Rossi while quoting certain of these as legendary, adds that an historical basis underlies these notices. Some of the more interesting of these are connected with the house and family of Pudens on the Aventine, and with the cemetery of Saint Priscilla on the Via Salaria.
To the pilgrims of the fifth and following centuries were pointed out the chair in which Peter used to sit and teach (Sedes ubi prius sedit S. Petrus), and also the cemeterium fontis S. Petri—cemeterium ubi Petrus baptizaverat. Marucchi, the pupil and successor of De Rossi, believes that this cemetery where it was said S. Peter used to baptize, is identical with parts of the vast and ancient catacomb of Priscilla. These and further traditional notices are dwelt on with greater detail presently when the general evidence is summed up.[4]
II
A SUMMARY OF LITERARY NOTICES
And now to sum up the evidence we have been quoting:
The Literary Notices have been gathered from all parts of the Roman world where Christianity had made a lodgment.
From Rome (Clement of Rome) in the first and second centuries and early in the third century.
From Antioch (Ignatius, Papias) (including Syria and Asia Minor) very early in the second century.
From Corinth (Greece) (Dionysius) in the second half of the second century.